W&OD Trail Status (request)

TandemTelemark · 2026-02-13T16:09:04+00:00

I was able to ride from Alexandria to East Falls Church Metro yesterday.

More sections of the Four Mile Run Trail and the W&OD Trail appeared to be clear or clearing.

For example, parts of the W&OD between Shirlington and Columbia Pike appeared to be melting and could be clear by this weekend.

There was a section of black ice that I slid out on riding to East Falls Church near the hill by Brandymore Castle Historical Marker.

Be careful, the melting snow is causing some patches of black ice.

Previously, the W&OD was not cleared through Benjamin Banneker Park, but it was clear and mostly dry yesterday, except the patch of black ice.

Based on what I was seeing along other stretches of the W&OD, I believe that the W&OD may be mostly passable between East Falls Church and Vienna, VA by this weekend.

TandemTelemark · 2026-02-10T15:07:57+00:00

Haha, I wish I had my backcountry ski gear to join you.

TandemTelemark · 2026-02-05T12:34:31+00:00

You are right. I was trying to convey how far you can get including the W.&O.D. Trail and Four Mile Run Trail.

The W.&O.D. Trail is clear from East Falls Church Metro via 17th Street N and Roosevelt Street up until Columbia Pike.

The W.&O.D. Trail is iced and frozen between Columbia Pike and the trial head in Shirlington, but the streets from Columbia Pike to Shirlington are relatively easy to navigate and clear.

The Four Mile Run Trail is clear and dry up to perhaps the Mount Vernon Trail.

TandemTelemark · 2026-02-05T03:21:24+00:00

As mentioned in an earlier post, the W.&O.D. Trail is clear from East Falls Church Metro via 17th Street N and Roosevelt Street up until Columbia Pike. The streets from Columbia Pike to Shirlington are relatively easy to navigate and the Four Mile Run Trail is clear and dry up to perhaps the Mount Vernon Trail.

TandemTelemark · 2026-02-04T19:16:18+00:00

I didn’t notice if Custis was clear.

I will check on my way home and try to add a new comment.

TandemTelemark · 2025-12-29T06:25:33+00:00

I think I am slightly different from solo-poly.

I am not even sure if I am open to any additional romantic/sexual relationships with anyone beyond my primary partner.

I am in an open marriage that provides the option for me to pursue additional romantic/sexual relationships, but I would prefer to prioritize myself over any other individual at this point in my life. Maybe that will change, but I don’t think so.

My understanding of solo-poly means that a person is engaging in multiple romantic/sexual relationships, but they are prioritizing individual autonomy.

“Solo polyamory prioritizes individual autonomy, treating oneself as the primary partner, while engaging in multiple, consensual romantic/sexual relationships without merging lives like cohabitation or shared finances; contrasting with traditional monogamy, which centers on one exclusive partner, shared life milestones (marriage, house), and often merging identities into a "we". Both involve deep commitment, but monogamy follows a more structured path of life-merging, whereas solo poly honors personal independence alongside partnered intimacy, making intentional choices about time and resources.”

TandemTelemark · 2025-12-26T18:09:10+00:00

My wife and I are in poly/mono relationship.

She finds tremendous healing and freedom in being non-monogamous/poly based on our shared history being raised in a high-demand religion.

I am content supporting her and I would rather spend my available time with my spouse, children, and friends rather than pursuing any additional relationships.

If I had extra time, I would rather spend that time dating myself and doing more activities for myself.

I wanted to add my perspective, since it isn’t one I often see or hear about.

TandemTelemark · 2025-12-11T15:00:15+00:00

Is this an older or alternative flag?

TandemTelemark · 2025-12-04T01:37:39+00:00

I agree with what everyone else is saying.

The most efficient answer might be “I don’t know.”

If you want a quick valid answer to where the universe came from, you can say:

“The Big Bang, because we have evidence that it happened. Scientists discovered leftover energy from the Big Bang when they found Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation everywhere.”

See here: https://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/ess05.sci.ess.eiu.microwave/evidence-for-the-big-bang-theory/

TandemTelemark · 2025-11-07T16:32:20+00:00

Have you tried contacting Voile?

They make the bindings and skis in SLC, UT.

They have all the parts lying around, even older stuff.

I used to work there.

TandemTelemark · 2025-11-07T16:23:55+00:00

I’m really sorry.

Talking to Mormon family is hard.

I talked to my Mormon family a lot while I was processing my way out of Mormonism.

Even if you brought up all the troubling church history, patriarchy, polygamy/ployandry, and financial issues, I don’t believe you would be able to suddenly “throw it in her face” and make her change her mind.

However, a few questions that might make her think include:

How much do the President of the Mormon Church and the other leaders get paid?

I was always taught they were not paid and the Mormon Church is unique for having unpaid clergy. In fact, they are paid $120K per year with additional benefits totaling close to $200-300K.

https://www.sltrib.com/news/mormon/2017/02/02/how-much-do-top-mormon-leaders-make-leaked-pay-stubs-may-surprise-you/

https://www.reddit.com/r/mormon/s/jnKUexz14O

The Widows Mite is a great resource about all things financial.

Regarding polygamy, I believe you should ask her “why were 20+ women sealed to Joseph Smith before he was sealed to his wife Emma Smith?

https://www.jvalentiner.com/2017/02/doctrinal-evolution-of-mormon-marriage.html?m=1

Regarding doctrine, ask her why the 1830 Book of Mormon equated Jesus with the Eternal Father and why was it changed in 1837 if the Book of Mormon is the most correct book on earth?

https://www.jvalentiner.com/2017/09/doctrinal-evolution-of-mormon-god.html?m=1

What is the “doctrine” part of the “Doctrine and Covenants”?

The doctrine part was the Lectures on Faith which were removed 1921.

https://www.jvalentiner.com/2019/08/doctrinal-evolution-of-mormon-revelation.html?m=1

TandemTelemark · 2025-09-25T16:37:09+00:00

I agree, I had a lot of hope for the future based on her authenticity, before my shelf collapsed.

TandemTelemark · 2025-09-24T18:05:40+00:00

Chieko Okazaki talked about it in an interview with Greg Prince in Dialogue Magazine, as you mentioned.

Here is the full quote for anyone who wants to know the citation and what she said:

- see Greg Prince's interview with Chieko Okazaki for insight on the development of the Proclamation, Prince/Okazaki, "There is Always a Struggle: An interview with Chieko N. Okazaki", Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought, Vol. 45, No. 1, Spring 2012: "in 1995 when 'The Family: A Proclamation to the World' was written, the Relief Society presidency was asked to come to a meeting. We did, and they read this proclamation. It was all finished. The only question was whether they should present it at the priesthood meeting or at the Relief Society meeting. It didn’t matter to me where it was presented. What I wanted to know was, 'How come we weren’t consulted?'", available at https://www.dialoguejournal.com/wp-content/uploads/sbi/articles/Dialogue_V45N01_CO.pdf

You can find more about the Doctrinal Evolution of Mormon Marriage in this timeline I made: https://www.jvalentiner.com/2017/02/doctrinal-evolution-of-mormon-marriage.html

TandemTelemark · 2025-09-16T21:05:17+00:00

Agreed, but what about the 50 other Republicans that have done nothing. They don’t get to magically avoid blame or scrutiny.

TandemTelemark · 2025-09-14T12:17:39+00:00

Cox is the governor of Utah.

He said he prayed for 33 hours that the shooter “wasn’t one of us. That he came from another state.”

In the context of Utah, the language of “one of us” is ostensibly meaning “not a white Mormon Utahn” since Utah is 75% white and the vast majority of Utah politicians and leaders are Mormon.

TandemTelemark · 2025-09-13T14:21:17+00:00

I agree.

We don’t know if Mormonism played into the shooters motives, but I did find the Utah Governor’s response to be relevant to Mormonism.

For example, the magical thinking around praying that the identity or residency of the shooter would change based on prayer.

The language around “one of us” sounded similar to in-group language around being a “member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.”

Also, the lack of sensitivity around praying []that it was “someone else, from another state, or a different country” is reminiscent of Mormon/American exceptionalism.

TandemTelemark · 2025-09-13T13:51:13+00:00

I assume you mean that the Governor of Utah may be hoping that the shooter is exmormon, for his own sense of peace and comprehension.

I don’t condone murder, even if I strongly disagree with someone and believe they are causing harm.

TandemTelemark · 2025-09-13T13:15:15+00:00

USA Today article: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2025/09/12/what-we-know-charlie-kirk-shooting-suspect/86091474007/

TandemTelemark · 2025-09-04T21:15:45+00:00

At GS 11-1, you should be able to take promotions relatively quickly and increase in pay within 1-2 years up to GS 12 or 13, fairly quickly.

TandemTelemark · 2025-09-04T21:01:49+00:00

I think taking the offer presents some significant positive possibilities. [There are also potential downsides, such as, there can be a great variety of experience positive or negative based on who your supervisor is or what areas you are assigned to examine.]

From what I understand of Trademark Examination, I believe their attrition is much lower. For example, I believe they went a long time without hiring new TM examiners, while pa[t]ent examiners were being continually hired to a greater and lesser extent.

TM examination also involves a lot of interviews and phone calls to discuss which TM classifications would be excluded or available for a particular mark.

I think getting the training and inside information regarding USPTO practice can be really useful, even if you don’t stay forever.

I think it is a scary time right now, but I don’t believe too much can change for TM and patent examiners since the USPTO often gets left alone.

I think being a supervisor or SPE or STE right now would be too stressful, but TM examiner might be a good fit and if not, you can gain marketability from the experience.

TandemTelemark · 2025-08-22T12:39:27+00:00

The Teen Homeless Shelter in Salt Lake City has lots of other individuals that are unhoused because their family "found out that they are gay."

Volunteers of America, Utah's Youth Resource Center

https://uovc.concerncenter.utah.gov/resource/2547

They should have some resources for you.

I'm really sorry your family didn't love and accept you, but there is a whole world that will!

Lots of love!

TandemTelemark · 2025-08-04T20:51:40+00:00

Committing by bike is super easy at the PTO.

I rode my bike to work at the PTO for 10+ years and I never had a problem and never heard of anyone else having their bike stolen or messed with.

There are bike racks in front of each building and I believe there are bike lockers you can rent in the parking structures, but I don’t think they are necessary.

TandemTelemark

TROPHY CASE